Hair Styling Device and Method

ABSTRACT

A hair styling device includes a needle having a shaft with a first-end and a second-end, a tail terminating with the second-end, and an eye formed from the shaft proximate the first-end and the tail. The hair styling is useful for creating protective hair styles when manipulated by a hair stylist.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

The present application is related to and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/364,306 filed Jul. 19, 2016, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The following includes information that may be useful in understanding the present disclosure. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art nor material to the presently described or claimed inventions, nor that any publication or document that is specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to the field of hair styling devices and more specifically relates to a device for creating protective hair styles.

RELATED ART

Hairstylists may use a variety of tools such as hair irons (including flat and curling irons), hair dryers, hairbrushes (both flat and round), hair rollers, crochet hooks, etc. Different tools may be used to create protective hair styles. One such protective hair style includes crochet braids, also known as latch hook braids, which are techniques for braiding hair that involve crocheting synthetic hair extensions to a person's natural hair with a latch hook or crochet hook. However, crochet hooks have been found to be disadvantageous in the past by straining a hairstylist's wrist and being time consuming. Therefore, a solution is desired.

U.S. Pub. No. 2004/0134509 to Belton relates to a happy locs tool. The described happy locs tool includes a pinched end for holding sections of hair. The hair section is threaded through the bulb and pulled upward into the pinch of the needle. This device secures hair while sewing hair in looping patterns in the formation of the hairstyle dreadlocks.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known hair styling art, the present disclosure provides a novel hair styling device and method. The general purpose of the present disclosure, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a hair styling device and method efficient for use.

A hair styling device is disclosed herein. The hair styling device includes a needle having a shaft with a first-end and a second-end. The shaft may be formed into an eye along the shaft proximate the first-end and a tail. The tail may terminate with the second-end. The hair styling device may be configured to create protective hair styles when manipulated by a hair stylist or other such user.

According to another embodiment, a method of using a hair styling device is also disclosed herein. The method of using a hair styling device includes looping at least one braid once, placing the at least one braid through an eye, sewing the hair styling device under the pre-braided hair on a head, removing the shaft of the hair styling device from under the pre-braided hair on the head, pulling an end of the at least one braid through the eye at least two times, and optionally repeating previous steps until completing desired protective hair style.

For purposes of summarizing the invention, certain aspects, advantages, and novel features of the invention have been described herein. It is to be understood that not necessarily all such advantages may be achieved in accordance with any one particular embodiment of the invention. Thus, the invention may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught or suggested herein. The features of the invention which are believed to be novel are particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings and detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The figures which accompany the written portion of this specification illustrate embodiments and methods of use for the present disclosure, a hair styling device and method, constructed and operative according to the teachings of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the hair styling device during an ‘in-use’ condition, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the hair styling device of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of the hair styling device of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a top perspective view of the hair styling device of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating a method of using the hair styling device, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

The various embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein like designations denote like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As discussed above, embodiments of the present disclosure relate to hair styling and more particularly to a hair styling device and method as used to improve the efficiency of hair styling of clientele.

Generally, the present disclosure allows a hair stylist to create protective hairstyles, such as crochet braids easily and quickly. It provides a device with an ergonomic shape that effectively reduces wrist pain. Furthermore, it eliminates the need to use a cumbersome crochet hook to create certain styles. It increases speed and productivity for women and hair stylists. The present invention enables hair stylists to style hair with minimal pulling and tangling.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings by numerals of reference, there is shown in FIGS. 1-4, various views of a hair styling device 100. FIG. 1 shows a hair styling device 100 during an ‘in-use’ condition, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Here, the hair styling device 100 may be beneficial for use by a hair stylist 5 to create protective hair styles on a head 15. As illustrated, the hair styling device 100 may include a needle 110 that may have a shaft 112 with a first-end 114 and a second-end 116. The shaft 112 may be formed into an eye 120 along the shaft 112 proximate the first-end 114 and a tail 130. The tail 130 may terminate with the second-end 116.

The hair styling device 100 may be configured to create protective hair styles when manipulated by the hair stylist 5. Furthermore, the hair styling device 100, when manipulated, is hand-manipulated such that wrist-strain may be minimized.

According to one embodiment, the hair styling device 100 may be arranged as a kit 105. In particular, the hair styling device 100 may further include a set of instructions 107 (not shown). The instructions 107 (not shown) may detail functional relationships in relation to the structure of the hair styling device 100 such that the hair styling device 100 can be used, maintained, or the like, in a preferred manner.

FIG. 2 shows the hair styling device 100 of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As above, the hair styling device 100 may include the needle 110 that may have the shaft 112 with the first-end 114 and the second-end 116. The shaft 112 may be formed into the eye 120 along the shaft 112 proximate the first-end 114 and the tail 130. The tail 130 may terminate with the second-end 116. The hair styling device may include a hand-grip 132. The hand-grip 132 may be situated about a meeting section between the tail 130 and the eye 120. The hand-grip 132 may comprise rubber. However, additional material that includes a gripping action may be used alternatively. A diameter 138 on an outside circumference 140 on the hand-grip 132 may be larger than that of the shaft 112, so that the hair stylist 5 may be inclined to utilize the hand-grip 132.

The eye 120 of the hair styling device 100 may be along the shaft 112 proximate the first-end 114 and the tail 130, the tail 130 terminating with the second-end 116. The eye 120 may be substantially oval, and configured to receive a plurality of hairs 25 therethrough. The plurality of hairs 25 comprises at least one braid. The at least one braid may be selected from the group consisting of micro-braids, dreadlocks, and pre-braided styles. Those with ordinary skill in the art will now appreciate that upon reading this specification and by their understanding the art of hair styling as described herein, additional methods of using the hair styling device will be understood by those knowledgeable in such art. The at least one braid may be able to be looped through the eye 120 at least once such that it may be manipulated in relation to itself in order to create the desired protective hair style. The needle 110 may be configured to provide a means by which the hair stylist 5 may be able to rotate the at least one braid. Rotation of the at least one braid by the hair stylist 5 may create the protective hair style desired upon the head 15.

The tail 130 may be arcuate in relation to the eye 120, and may be shaped to fit a normalized hand-position when used by the hair stylist 5. The second-end 116 may comprise a round-end profile or a non-round-end profile, whichever may most benefit the hair stylist 5 and the desired protective hair style.

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of the hair styling device 100 of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The hair styling device 100 may include the shaft 112. The shaft 112 may be formed into the eye 120 along the shaft 112 proximate the first-end 114 and the tail 130. The shaft 112 may comprise a circular cross-section. The shaft 112 may comprise metal. It should be noted that other materials may be desired to accommodate the hair stylist 5 or further technological advances.

FIG. 4 is a top perspective view of the hair styling device 100 of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The hair styling device 100 may include the needle 110. The needle 110 may form the shaft 112 with the first-end 114 and the second-end 116. The shaft 112 may be formed into the eye 120 along the shaft 112 proximate the first-end 114 and the tail 130. The tail 130 may terminate with the second-end 116. The hand-grip 132 may be situated about a meeting section between the tail 130 and the eye 120.

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for using 500 a hair styling device 100, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In particular, the method for using 500 the hair styling device 100 may include one or more components or features of the hair styling device 100 as described above. As illustrated, the method for using 500 the hair styling device 100 may include the steps of: step one 501, looping at least one braid once; step two 502, placing the at least one braid through the eye; step three 503, sewing the hair styling device under pre-braided hair on the head; step four 504, removing the shaft of the hair styling device from under the pre-braided hair on the head; step five 505, pulling an end (not shown) of the at least one braid through the eye at least two times; and step six 506, repeating previous steps until completing desired protective hair style.

It should be noted that step six 506 is an optional step and may not be implemented in all cases. Optional steps of method of use 500 are illustrated using dotted lines in FIG. 5 so as to distinguish them from the other steps of method of use 500. It should also be noted that the steps described in the method of use can be carried out in many different orders according to preferences. The use of “step of” should not be interpreted as “step for”, in the claims herein and is not intended to invoke the provisions of 35 U.S.C. §112(f). It should also be noted that, under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as design preference, preferences, marketing preferences, cost, structural requirements, available materials, technological advances, etc., other methods for using the hair styling device 100, such as elimination or addition of certain steps, are taught herein.

The embodiments of the invention described herein are exemplary and numerous modifications, variations and rearrangements can be readily envisioned to achieve substantially equivalent results, all of which are intended to be embraced within the spirit and scope of the invention. Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientist, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. 

What is claimed is new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims:
 1. A hair styling device, the hair style device comprising: a needle having a shaft with a first-end and a second-end; the shaft formed into an eye along the shaft proximate the first-end and a tail, the tail terminating with the second-end; and wherein the hair styling device is configured to create protective hair styles when manipulated by a hair stylist.
 2. The hair styling device of claim 1, wherein the hair styling device when manipulated is hand-manipulated such that wrist-strain is minimized from being in a natural position.
 3. The hair styling device of claim 1, wherein the hair styling device further comprises a hand-grip.
 4. The hair styling device of claim 3, wherein the hand-grip is situated about a meeting section between the tail and the eye.
 5. The hair styling device of claim 1, wherein the tail is arcuate in relation to the eye.
 6. The hair styling device of claim 5, wherein the tail being arcuate is shaped to fit a normalized hand-position when used by the hair stylist.
 7. The hair styling device of claim 1, wherein the second-end comprises a round-end profile.
 8. The hair styling device of claim 1, wherein the second-end does not comprise a round-end profile.
 9. The hair styling device of claim 1, wherein the shaft comprises a circular cross-section.
 10. The hair styling device of claim 1, wherein the eye is substantially oval.
 11. The hair styling device of claim 10, wherein the eye is oval to receive a plurality of hairs there through.
 12. The hair styling device of claim 11, wherein the plurality of hairs comprises at least one braid.
 13. The hair styling device of claim 12, wherein the needle is configured to provide a means by which the hair stylist is able to rotate the at least one braid.
 14. The hair styling device of claim 1, wherein the at least one braid is selected from the group consisting of micro-braids, dreadlocks, and pre-braided styles.
 15. The hair styling device of claim 1, wherein a diameter on an outside circumference on the hand-grip is larger than that of the shaft.
 16. The hair styling device of claim 1, wherein the at least one braid is able to be looped through the eye at least once such that it may be manipulated in relation to itself.
 17. A hair styling device comprising: a needle having a shaft with a first-end and a second-end; the shaft formed into an eye along the shaft proximate the first-end and a tail, the tail terminating with the second-end; wherein the hair styling device when manipulated is hand-manipulated such that wrist-strain is minimized; wherein the hair styling device further comprises a hand-grip; wherein the hand-grip is situated about a meeting section between the tail and the eye; wherein the hand-grip comprises rubber; wherein a diameter on an outside circumference on the hand-grip is larger than that of the shaft; wherein the tail is arcuate in relation to the eye; wherein the tail, being arcuate, is shaped to fit a normalized hand-position when used by a hair stylist; wherein the second-end comprises a round-end profile; wherein the second-end comprises a non-round-end profile; wherein the shaft comprises a circular cross-section; wherein the eye is substantially oval; wherein the eye, being oval, is configured to receive a plurality of hairs there through; wherein the plurality of hairs comprises at least one braid; wherein the needle is configured to provide a means by which the hair stylist is able to rotate the at least one braid; wherein the at least one braid is selected from the group consisting of micro-braids, dreadlocks, and pre-braided styles; wherein the at least one braid is able to be looped through the eye at least once such that it may be manipulated in relation to itself; wherein the shaft comprises metal; and wherein the hair styling device is configured to create protective hair styles when manipulated by the hair stylist.
 18. The hair styling device of claim 17, further comprising set of instructions; and wherein the hair styling device is arranged as a kit.
 19. A method of using the hair styling device to create protective hair styles, the method comprising the steps of: looping at least one braid once, placing the at least one braid through an eye, sewing the hair styling device under pre-braided hair on a head, removing the shaft of the hair styling device from under the pre-braided hair on the head, and pulling an end of the at least one braid through the eye at least two times.
 20. The method of claim 19, further comprising the steps of repeating previous steps until completing desired protective hair style. 